Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

Empty oatmeal canisters are fantastic to reuse. They’re large, seal tight, help you keep an organized space and allow you create interesting decor for your kitchen. Other than an empty canister, you’ll only need a few additional items to help get you started.

What you’ll need:

• Scrapbook paper
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Kitchen-themed picture
• Mod Podge

Step 1. Choose a piece of scrapbook paper that complements your kitchen décor.

Step 2. Coat the entire outside of the canister with Mod Podge, line the scrapbook paper flush along the edge, then wrap it around and flatten it out. Don’t worry if the ends don’t match up.

Step 3. Trim off the excess scrapbook paper.

Step 4. From the excess scrapbook paper, cut a piece that’s large enough to cover the space of the canister that’s still showing through. It’ll serve double-duty by also adding some contrast to the design.

Step 5. Flip the strip of paper over so the white side is showing, adhere it over the space, then flatten it down to remove air bubbles.

Step 6. Choose a kitchen-themed picture, then glue it down perpendicular over the strip of paper.

Optional: Adhere ribbon along the top and bottom edges of the canister.

By Cardmaking & Scrapbook Layout Contributor, Peg from the blog Peg’s Crafting Corner.

Q1. What do I do with photos that aren’t perfect? I hate to get rid of them.

A2. Use them! It adds interest to your page if your subject is maybe blurred or when you took the picture it focused on something other than the people in the photo. You can also use things like a paper trimmer and cut them into strips and piece back together for interest or use a paper punch to create an embellishment.

Q2. What is a good way to cut the center of plastic cards to make small picture frames?

A2. You can cut the plastic using a die cutting machine such as the Cricut and the Deep Blade Housing that is made for it. You will have your choice of any of the items on the Cricut Cartridges to choose to cut. You can, also, use a manual die cut machine such as a Sizzix and the dies created for use with it to cut frames. The Fiskars ShapeCutter and the templates that go with that are, also, another choice for cutting plastic pieces. Use the shape that you cut and place it inside of a frame that you’ve created. You can create a frame from paper by cutting the same design and using the cut out piece and add the plastic piece to that.

Q3. What are scrapbook kits?

A3. They are preassembled packages of matching papers and embellishments for purchase. It is a good way for someone who is starting out to make a layout because it will have everything you need except for the adhesive and scissors.

Q4. Can I use cardstock for a layout background?

A4. Yes, you can use cardstock instead of patterned paper. You can add patterned paper that matches the cardstock colors for such things as photo mats or punched pieces to add color and design to your plain cardstock. Textured cardstock is great to use, too! It adds a subtle design to your background on its own.

Q5. How can I use eyelets?

A5. The use of eyelets are only limited to your imagine, but here are a few ideas for you….they can be used as polka dots on a plain sheet of paper make them the center of a flower, if you are making a list of things on your layout such as the date, time, facts, etc.; turn it into a bullet list by adding eyelets before each point. You can paper piece something together such as a doll and use the eyelets to make the arms and legs move on the layout. Eyelets make great borders either by putting them in a row or by tracing a pattern onto the paper and placing eyelets on the penciled in areas to recreate the pattern. Use them to attach journal cards or photos mats. The uses are really endless!